Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 2020 The Concept of Truth in the Gospel of John Bastian Ogon Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ogon, Bastian, "The Concept of Truth in the Gospel of John" (2020). Master's Theses. 180. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/180 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT THE CONCEPT OF TRUTH IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN by Bastian Ogon Adviser: Laurențiu F. Moț ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE CONCEPT OF TRUTH IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN Name of researcher: Bastian Ogon Name and degree of faculty adviser: Laurențiu F. Moț, Ph.D. Date completed: April 2020 Problem The term ἀλήθεια, ‘truth’ is a frequently used term in the Gospel of John. The fundamental question of this paper is to discuss how truth is understood by John and if the Gospel of John conveys a specific concept of truth? Method The first part will briefly consider common philosophical concepts of truth, as well as epistemological issues connected to them. These approaches will be compared with John’s truth concept. In the second part the most important passages where ἀλήθεια is used will be carefully analyzed exegetically, in order to understand the concept of ἀλήθεια in Johannine thought. The third part will deal with implications from the previous discussion that are essential to Christianity in general. Results Ἀλήθεια was revealed to John, which is why he testified to it, in order to encourage others to believe. Truth is the basis on which the Trinity is founded and from where it operates from. Conclusions John sees ἀλήθεια as an absolute concept, incompatible with relativism or pluralism. It is deeply Christocentric (John 14:6), but also Trinitarian. This means that it is intellectual and factual, but at the same time deeply personal, relational and active. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE CONCEPT OF TRUTH IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree Master of Arts by Bastian Ogon 2020 © Copyright by Bastian Ogon 2020 All Rights Reserved THE CONCEPT OF TRUTH IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts by Bastian Ogon APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ________________________________ Laurențiu F. Moț, Ph.D., Adviser ________________________________ Zoltán Szallós-Farkas, Ph.D. ________________________________ ___________________________ Cedric Vine, Ph.D. Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ V Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 Topic................................................................................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................. 1 Importance of the Study ................................................................................... 2 Definition of Keywords .................................................................................... 3 Delimitations .................................................................................................... 3 Methodology .................................................................................................... 3 Claim ................................................................................................................ 4 2. PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHES AND HERMENEUTICS ............................. 5 Overview on Theories about Truth .................................................................. 5 The Johannine View on Truth .......................................................................... 8 What is True Belief? .................................................................................... 9 Seeing and Believing ................................................................................. 11 Reactions to Jesus' δόξα ............................................................................ 13 What about John? ...................................................................................... 15 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 16 Definition of the John's Truth Concept .......................................................... 17 Common Features and Differences ........................................................... 20 Hermeneutical Principles ............................................................................... 22 The Postmodern Approach towards Theology .......................................... 26 3. THE JOHANNINE CONCEPT OF TRUTH ........................................................ 29 Semantic Examination.................................................................................... 30 Truth and the Persons of the Trinity............................................................... 32 God the Father: The True God .................................................................. 33 Jesus: Setting the Stage in John 1:14.17 .................................................... 41 Jesus: Truth as Freedom in John 8:31-36 .................................................. 50 Jesus: Truth, Lies and the Devil in John 8:37-47 ...................................... 59 Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life ..................................................... 67 Holy Spirit: The Spirit of Truth ................................................................. 75 Conclusion on the Trinity and Truth ......................................................... 84 iii Sanctification, Truth and the Trinity .............................................................. 86 The Preposition ἐν ..................................................................................... 87 God the Father ........................................................................................... 88 Jesus Christ the Son ................................................................................... 91 The Holy Spirit .......................................................................................... 92 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 93 Humans and Truth .......................................................................................... 95 Doing Truth ............................................................................................... 95 Worship in Spirit and Truth ....................................................................... 98 Bearing Witness to the Truth ................................................................... 103 Pilate: What is Truth? .............................................................................. 103 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 107 4. FURTHER IMPLICATIONS ............................................................................. 109 5. FINAL CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... 114 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 116 iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS HCM – Historical-Critical Method HGM – Historical-Grammatical Method LXX – Septuagint NT – New Testament OT – Old Testament v CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Topic During his encounter with Pilate, Jesus affirmed that he came into the world to testify “truth” (John 18:37). Pilate reacts to this question with quite a philosophical counterquestion: “What is truth?” (John 18:38).1 It is striking to notice that Pilate does not receive an answer. Moreover, the reader finds out that this is the last time the Greek word for truth, ἀλήθεια, appears in the Gospel of John. It seems likely that in order to understand the meaning of the term ‘truth’ in Johannine thought, and also its meaning in Pilate’s inquiry, one needs to go through the previous 24 occurrences of ἀλήθεια in the Gospel of John. Statement of the Problem The usage of ἀλήθεια by John reveals that the word bears a multifaceted meaning. Different aspects of ἀλήθεια seem to be developed during the progress of John’s Gospel. Following the question about the concept of truth in the Gospel of John, it is essential to evaluate all different aspects of truth in order to receive a homogenous view of John’s understanding of ἀλήθεια. At the center lies the question: How is the term ‘truth’ explained and understood by John? This fundamental question can be seen as the 1 Unless otherwise stated, all Bible quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, Il: Standard Bible Society, 2001). 1 heartbeat of this research and will occupy the principal focus. Does the Gospel of John convey a specific concept of truth? Is ἀλήθεια absolute or relative? What are the implications of truth being defined in